Blasting cap



Patented Nov. 8, 1932 WILLARD DE C. CRATER, OF SUCCASUNNA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, TO HERCULES POWDER COHIPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I BLASTING CAP No Drawing.

My invention relates to an improvement in charges for blasting caps such as are customarily used in connection with commercial explosives.

As is well known, blasting caps are used to efiect the detonation or firing of commercial explosives, such as dynamites, permissible explosives, etc., which require for their detonation or firing a primer charge as compared with mere ignition, as in the case of firing, for example, black powder. Heretofore various substances and mixtures of substances have been utilized in the charging of blasting caps; however, the prior caps have not been entirely satisfactory from all standpoints.

Now, in accordance with my invention, I have discovered that a superior blasting cap is provided where the cap is charged with nitromaltose. In accordance with my invention the nitromaltose is associated with some substance capable of acting as an initial primer,the initial primer being superimposed on the nitromaltose or being admixed therewith, or both.

The nitromaltose used in accordance with my invention may be produced by nitrating maltose, a sugar, in any convenient way, as, for example, by adding dry maltose to a suitable mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, then pouring the mixture into water to efiect dilution of the acids and separation of the nitromaltose. The nitromaltose is then Washer with dilute sodium carbonate solution and water until it is free from acid and stable under suitable heat tests.

In producing a blasting cap in accordance with my invention, the nitromaltose in association with any desired substance or compound which will be elIect-ive as an initial primer, such as, for example, fulminatechlorate, diazodinitrophenol, lead azide, etc. and, as has been indicated, the substance or compound used as an initial primer may be superimposed on the nitromaltose, or may be admixed therewith, or both.

In the production of a cap in accordance with my invention, for example, the cap shell may be first charged with say about .20 g. of nitromaltose and there may then Application filed September 30, 1930. Serial No. 485,557.

If desired, in chargmg a cap with nitromaltose and, for example, fulminate-chlorate, the nitromaltose and fulminate-chlorate may be intermixed, preferably intimately, and the mixture charged into the ca shell and suitably compressed. For examp e, the mixture may comprise 40% nitromaltose and 60% fulminate-chlorate.

It will be noted that the cap in accordance withmy invention will possess characteristics equal to or superior to caps heretofore known, and particularly as regards grams of sand crushed in the sand test and in their capacity for eiiiciently detonating commercial explosives, as for example, dynamites, etc; and it Will be further noted that the nitromaltose will be found to be dense and free flowing, which renders it especially adaptable to mechanical loading. I It will be. understood that my invention from the broad standpoint involves the use of nitromaltose as a charge for blasting caps, the nitromaltose being associated in a practical manner with a substance adapted to act as an initial primer, as for example, in admixture therewith, or as a base charge thereunder, or both.

It will also be understood that the nitromaltose inay be used in association, as in admixture with another explosive not neces sarily a primer, as for example, tetryl, trinitrotoluene, nitrostarch, etc.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose.

2. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and a substance capable of acting as a primer for the nitromaltose.

3. In a blasting cap a charge including in admixture nitromaltose and a substance capable of acting as a primer for the nitromaltose.

4. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose as a case charge and a substance capable of acting as a primer for 8. In a blasting cap a charge including I crystallized nitromaltose as a base charge and a primer charge superimposed thereon.

9. in a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and fulminatechlorate in admixture as a base charge and a primer charge of fulminate-chlorate superimposed thereon.

10. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and diazodinitrophenol. r

11. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and diazodinitrophenol in admixture.

12. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose as a base charge and a primer charge of diazodinitrophenol super-- imposed thereon.

13. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and diazodinitrophenol in admixture as a base charge and a primer charge of diazodinitrophenol superimposed thereon.

14%. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and lead azide.

15. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and lead azide in admixture.

16. In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose as a base charge and a primer charge of lead azide superimposed thereon.

17 In a blasting cap a charge including crystallized nitromaltose and lead azide in admixture as a base charge and a primer charge of lead azide superimposed thereon.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand at Kenvil, N. J on this 26th day of Sept, 1930.

WILLIARD DE G. CRATER. 

